Common Marbled Carpet
Dysstroma truncata
This record describes Dysstroma truncata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 24-30 mm. A common and remarkably variable species. This species has a wide range of habitats. There are two broods, flying in May and June, and again from August to October, sometimes later. The larvae feed on a wide range of low-growing plants. Common throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Dysstroma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This species has a wide range of habitats.
Seasonal Activity
There are two broods, flying in May and June, and again from August to October, sometimes later.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a wide range of low-growing plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dysstroma truncata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Common Marbled Carpet (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Marbled Carpet
What is Common Marbled Carpet?
Common Marbled Carpet (Dysstroma truncata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Common Marbled Carpet found?
Habitat: This species has a wide range of habitats.
When is Common Marbled Carpet active?
Common Marbled Carpet: seasonal activity - There are two broods, flying in May and June, and again from August to October, sometimes later..
What is the life cycle of a Common Marbled Carpet?
The larvae feed on a wide range of low-growing plants.